It wasn’t the bar’s fault. It was mine.

I once lived near Wyman’s No. 5, a Chicago-style bar northeast of Cheesman Park. My roommate and I and our two neighbors made a habit of walking the five blocks to our neighborhood pub. We went on Sundays, Mondays, Thursday, Saturdays—it didn’t matter; the deep-dish pizza, microbrews, lax crowd, and hospitable staff were consistently gratifying.

Which is why I didn’t tell my crew in advance about a recent happy-hour trip to the old standby. Instead, I notified them of my plans on the way to the bar, figuring they’d be quick to head over and attempt to revive the glory days.

Wrong. The vintage trio was busy. And Wyman’s on a sunny weekday afternoon—when most were probably drinking on a patio or biking through the park—was quiet.

This isn’t right. People should love this place.

So I turned to texting. If I couldn’t hang with the crew, I’d at least get their cell-phone input. “What do you remember or like most about Wyman’s?” I asked, baffled by the silence.

I felt detached sitting solo at the large U-shaped bar, waiting for responses, but the feeling faded soon enough, as I was reminded of the things I loved about the joint: a good selection of New Belgium, Odell, and Sierra Nevada brews; the quick-to-crack-a-joke duo sitting next to me, taking in a pre-softball-game drink; and an attentive, go-with-the-flow waitstaff.

By the time my phone buzzed, the booths had filled with relaxed-looking groups enjoying hoppy pints and pizza as thick as a stack of DVDs—the same Wyman’s traits my friends and I reminisced about electronically.

Wyman’s offers half-off wine, wells, and drafts during happy hour:

3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday;

10 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday;

and Sunday from 9 p.m. to midnight.

2037 E. 13th Ave., 303-996-0842